Comments: 0]Aviva's decision to consolidate its European interests under a single Irish holding company is by no means unique, and follows moves taken by several multinational corporations to consider the benefits of Irish company formation and relocate to Ireland in the wake of proposed tax reforms in the US. Last May, US president Barack Obama declared his intention to clamp down on the channelling of US company profits through registered offices overseas and to dampen corporate enthusiasm for outsourcing jobs to foreign countries. Since then there has been a noticeable increase in Irish company formation applications as a number of notable firms have moved their place of incorporation from countries identified by the US as tax havens, such ACN as Bermuda, to Ireland. Accenture, Wilis Group Holdings, TBS International, Ingersoll RandThese include renowned consultancy firm Accenture, insurance brokerage giant Willis Group Holdings, international shipping outfit TBS International, manufacturing specialist Ingersoll Rand, electrical products manufacturer Cooper Industries, and medical device supplier Covidien. Warner Chilcott plc, a pharmaceutical company employing 1,115 people worldwide, is currently seeking court orders to facilitate its Irish company formation project and is planning relocation to Ireland for tax reasons. WPP, one of the world's largest advertising and marketing groups, moved to Dublin from London in September 2008, following their loud criticism of changes in the British corporate tax environment by the UK treasury.